Western cyclone., 1887-06-24
THE BATTLE OF THE FLAGS
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND RE.
STORES HARMONY.
Inc Flags VIII Remain Where They Arc
Interstate Commission Proceed
1ngs-WashingtOn News.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE hubbub
kicked up over the proposed return of Con-
Ieoerate flags to their respective States, on
the order OF Gen. Drum, and over which
Grand Army Fairchild permitted himself to
bubble in most unbecoming manner, was
completely cooled down by the following
letter from President Cleveland to Secretary
Endicott:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, JUNE
10. 10 THE SECRETARY OF WAR: | have to-
day considered with more care than when the
subject was orally presented me the action of
your department, directing letters to be adj
dressed to the Governors of all the States,
onerlng 70 return II desired, to the loyal States
the Union hags captured in the war Of the
rebellion by the Confederate forces and after
ward recovered by Government troops; and to
the Confederate states the flags captured by
the UnlOn forces. all of which for many years
have been packed in boxes and stored in the
cellar and attic of the War Department
L am OF the opinion that the return of these
nagS IN the manner thus contemplated is not
authorized by existing law, nor justified as an
executive act. | request, therefore, that no
further steps be taken i'll the matter, except to
examine and invC ntOry these flags and adOpt
proper measures tOr their preservation. ANY
direction as to the final disposition of them
should originate with Congress. Yours truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
All intimate friends of the Executive said
this evening that the President sanctioned
the return of the flags without giving the
subject serious consideration, and upon rep
resentatiOnS that the matter was not in anv
way governed by law. The Presidents
understanding was that the flags had been
from time to time returned when applied for.
and that no new or important question was
involved. Immediately upon examining the
law, however, and learning that there was a
large number of Confederate flags involved.
nf b.,I I,~Fo
returned, the President Immediately decided
that his approval of the plan had been Sin
considerate and mistaken"
Adjt.-Gen. Drum and Secretary Endicott
on whom it is presumed the President de-
pended for a correct knowledge of the law
governing the custody and control of these
war trophies, came i'll tonight for most crit
icism in misleading or misinforming the
President about his authority to dispose Of
them in the manner proposed. Fairminded
men applaud the President for his prompt
action in the matter, and for averting legal
proceeding and public discussion which
would have done more to arouse war ami
moSities and sectional prejudices than the
exhibition of these flags for hundred years.
Adjt-Gen. Drum, before the issue Of the
Presidents letter, said to a reporter in
ASiNtCAOAA
return the flags to all the States, North and
South. The President has recommended
that it be done, and am now having.full lists
made of all these trophies in possession Of
the department. In short time we shall
have the whole collection so assorted and
separated that we shall be ready to forward
to every State in the Union whatever flags
belonging to State volunteers fell into the
hands of the Federal army, and into the
possession of the War Department. am
having complete inventory of them made
out, with written statements to tell briefly,
as far known, the history of each trophy,
and the story of how it came to be captured
All this literature will be completed and the
trophies will be ready to be forwarded to
their owners in a few weeks.
"This action is not due to any pressure or
any suggestion from any outside source.
The idea originated with the Administration
1t had been in contemplation in the depart
ment for some considerable time"